beyondBeijing2008.com

 URUMQI, China – Thousands of riot police have descended upon the Western city of Urumqi as Chinese authorities try to control the ethnic tensions that sparked riots on Sunday and left at least 156 dead. Fears of further violent clashes between the local Uighur population and Han Chinese in the oil-rich Xinjiang province forced Chinese President Hu Jintao to cut short his visit to the Group of Eight summit so he could address the situation.

NBC News’ Ian Williams arrived in the city on Wednesday and reports on the mood in the city and government efforts to control the local Uighur population, as well as the media. 

What’s the mood like in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang province?
Well the city is very, very tense. There aren’t many people on the streets, there is very little traffic.

The city has been flooded with riot police and members of the security forces. They have blocked most of the junctions downtown. There are police and security forces everywhere. They have really locked the place down.

SLIDESHOW: Clashes erupt in China’s West

All the shops are closed. One or two are open, but most of the shops are shuttered. There are people just lingering on the corners, watching the riot police.  But it does seem that the authorities have the center of town under control at the moment.

It’s very, very tense and you can feel it. There is a sense that without the massive police presence, violence could flare up again at any time. 

…(read more)